MRA improves sensitivity than MRI for the articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears

BACKGROUND: This study aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR arthrography (MRA) for the articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tear (PTRCT). METHODS: Three electronic databases, PubMed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library, were utilized to retrieve articles comparing the diagnostic value of MRA and MRI for detecting articular-sided PTRCTs. The pooled statistical indexes included sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive value, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: Eleven studies involving 1703 patients and 1704 shoulders were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC and their 95% CIs of MRA to diagnose articular-sided PTRCTs were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.65–0.90), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.91–0.98), 68.14 (95% CI, 33.20–139.84) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94–0.97), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC and their 95% CIs of MRI were 0.78 (95% CI, 0.65–0.87) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.84–0.99), 47.82 (95% CI, 8.29–275.89) and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86–0.92), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis reveals that MRA has a better diagnostic value than that of MRI for the diagnosis of articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears because of an improvement of sensitivity.